- A
-a 6 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Why wrong: Hybrid attack, not pure brute-force.
- B
-a 3 -m 0 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Why wrong: Hash mode 0 is MD5, not NTLM.
- C
-a 3 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Mask attack for 8 lowercase letters.
- D
-a 0 -m 1000 dictionary.txt
Why wrong: Dictionary attack, not brute-force.
Question 118 of 1,000
PT0-002 Attacks and Exploits Practice Question
This PT0-002 practice question tests your understanding of attacks and exploits. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A tester is using Hashcat to crack NTLM hashes. They want to try all possible passwords consisting of exactly 8 lowercase letters. Which attack mode and mask should they use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
-a 3 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Brute-force mode (-a 3) with mask ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l tries all 8-letter lowercase combinations.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
-a 6 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Why it's wrong here
Hybrid attack, not pure brute-force.
- ✗
-a 3 -m 0 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Why it's wrong here
Hash mode 0 is MD5, not NTLM.
- ✓
-a 3 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l
Why this is correct
Mask attack for 8 lowercase letters.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
-a 0 -m 1000 dictionary.txt
Why it's wrong here
Dictionary attack, not brute-force.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PT0-002 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PT0-002 question test?
Attacks and Exploits — This question tests Attacks and Exploits — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: -a 3 -m 1000 ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l — Brute-force mode (-a 3) with mask ?l?l?l?l?l?l?l?l tries all 8-letter lowercase combinations.
What should I do if I get this PT0-002 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related PT0-002 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PT0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PT0-002 exam.
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